Name: Dione Tan
Age: 25
Occupation: Fashion Model / Content Creator / Entrepreneur
Status: Attached
Food: No diets! I eat all I want, at any time I feel like it. This is my biggest life blessing.
Exercise: Run twice a week, golf and yoga once a week
When you were younger, were you active in sports?
I’ve been involved in sports for most of my life. I started in primary school with bowling, where the sport was highly competitive. I was selected for the exclusive Junior Sports Academy (JSA) team under the Singapore Sports School, despite being from a different school. Through this, I competed in numerous local and overseas competitions.
In secondary school, floorball became my main CCA and I was later introduced to touch rugby as an elective sport. We competed against other schools multiple times, and I still remember winning several inter-school competitions. These are experiences that shaped my competitive spirit and love for sports.
What did you get into as you got older?
As I transitioned into tertiary education, I studied at LASALLE, where there were no CCAs offered. During this time, I developed a strong interest in yoga, practising regularly – at my peak, up to four times a week. Over time, my fitness journey evolved into running when two close friends started their own run club and I joined to support them.
What began as encouragement soon turned into genuine enjoyment. As my interest in endurance and performance grew, I joined BFT for about two years in preparation for HYROX. To date, I’ve completed HYROX four times!
When did you start fashion modelling?
I was officially signed with Basic Models in 2021. I remember attending their open castings for three consecutive years but not making the cut, as I was considered either too short or not suitable for client requirements at the time.
In 2021, the modelling industry became more inclusive when it came to height, and at 1.68m, I was finally given an opportunity. That said, it wasn’t just about height. I had also built a strong social media presence by then, which played a key role in Basic’s decision to sign me.
What do you like about fashion modelling?
I enjoy being given a new set of mood boards to work with for each shoot. You never truly know what a client is looking for until you arrive on set and are presented with pages of visual references and poses. Some days call for bright, expressive smiles; other days require a more edgy or editorial look — and that variety is what makes the work exciting.
Every shoot feels different and I’ve always enjoyed the process of stepping into something new each time. Beyond the creative aspect, I also value meeting professionals from diverse backgrounds. Each photographer and makeup artist brings a unique working style, and I find it incredibly rewarding to collaborate with and learn from different industry professionals along the way.
Do you feel any pressure to maintain your appearance?
Yes, but a moderate level of pressure. Skin is the biggest pressure because it’s the first thing everyone notices. So skincare is my most important daily routine to ensure I’m always in my top condition. Not to mention I’m an outdoor person, and as a model, being tan-skinned is not an option if it’s not your original skin colour. So, that means more sunscreen for me. Physique wise, I would say I have been pretty lucky with my genetics!
Have you experienced any incidents that made you feel insecure about yourself?
I’ve heard many remarks about how skinny I was, comments like “do you even eat?” or “why are you so skinny” were nothing new to me. At the start, it made me feel insecure, especially when I noticed people staring at my body when I wore athleisure or crop tops.
That insecurity was one of the main reasons I joined BFT in 2023. I wanted to feel stronger and healthier, and I attended classes almost every day. Training regularly naturally changed my relationship with food and movement, and I found myself feeling more energised and fulfilled.
Working out made me genuinely happier — there was a sense of accomplishment in getting stronger and faster, and in building a healthier version of myself. Over time, the comments shifted from criticism to encouragement, with people noticing my strength instead. That change meant a lot to me, and I no longer felt insecure about my body.
When did you feel the least confident about yourself?
Between 2021 and 2023, I went through a phase where I was extremely underweight. It was mainly due to genetics where no matter how much I eat, it doesn’t translate to my body weight. Even some clients commented that I looked too skinny, and frequent remarks about how frail I appeared slowly affected my confidence.
While being slim is often seen as an advantage in modelling, I realised that balance and proportions matter just as much — and at my height, it didn’t always translate well for me. That period made me reflect deeply on how I wanted to feel in my own body. Incorporating strength training, running, and yoga helped me rebuild both physically and mentally.
Over time, I became stronger, healthier, and far more confident in how I look and feel. Today, I’m much more grounded in myself. Comments about my body no longer affect me the way they once did.
